Many of the new clients I take on complain of feeling tired, lethargic and generally not their best self day to day.
Straight away I get onto looking at their iron levels. Why? Well...
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies out there, especially in pre menopausal women who lose blood during menstruation.
Your iron levels could be the missing piece to the puzzle in feeling yourself again.
So, what part does iron play in our bodies?
Iron is the key component of haemoglobin which allows red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. So if you are iron deficient, your body can't get the amount of oxygen it needs. Iron also helps your cells to grow, develop new cells, hormones, neurotransmitters and amino acids... iron helps your cells to thrive.
So yeah.. you could say that iron is kinda important!
You might be wondering if your iron levels are too low. Well, here is a long list of some signals it just well could be!
Signs & Symptoms
Extreme fatigue
Cold hands and feet
Feeling weak
Pale skin
Poor appetite
Shortness of breath
Sore/inflamed tongue
Brittle nails
Headache or dizziness
Fast heart beat
Decreased mental performance
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your GP. There are some simple blood tests you can do to help check your iron levels.
The best way to increase your iron levels is by consuming it through the food you eat
Here is a list of foods high in iron:
It's important to note that iron from meat sources is ten times better absorbed than iron from plant sources.
Eg. a serving of roast chicken and a serving of whole grain bread contain similar amounts of iron. However, three times as much will be absorbed into the bloodstream from the chicken as from the bread.
If you eat red meat then you're in luck because it is probably the best source of iron. A serving of lean steak has 5.5mg of iron of which 20% can be absorbed.
Those vegetarians out there, you will want to turn to foods like tofu, legumes and dark leafy greens like spinach. These foods contain lots of iron however our bodies absorb just 2% of it.
If you find that you are iron deficient, oral iron supplements can be a good option.
If you would like to learn more about how you can improve your general mood, energy levels and quality of life with accountability from a coach then get in touch through my website.
